Massey hopes to start another streak

July 18

Spencer Massey drives the FRAM/Prestone Top Fuel Dragster into this weekend’s 32nd-annual MOPAR Mile-High NHRA Nationals here at Bandimere Speedway focused on starting another streak of drama-free runs, a streak which has propelled him into second place of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel standings.

Beginning with the first-qualifying session of the Atlanta race, Massey put together 40-consecutive laps without smoking the tires of his hot rod. The next five races saw the 28-year-old Don Schumacher Racing driver pick up two victories, a runner up and two semifinal-round finishes, as well as two number-one qualifiers – and a move from fifth to second in the standings.

“Racing’s full of ups and downs, and we suffered a slight loss of momentum in Chicago,” he said about his round-one loss at the last event. “But we still qualified number one before smoking the tires on a very hot and slippery track on race day.

“We just have to get another streak going, get back to getting down the race track by going from A to B without beating ourselves. That’s the most important part of what we’ve been doing – we have not been beating ourselves.”

The overall season has been very rewarding and positive, he added.

“I’m having a lot of fun,” said the Fort Worth native. “We are having the kind of success expected of us because of the caliber of the FRAM/Prestone team. The car I’m driving has shown greatness for years and the results we’re achieving are what Don (Schumacher) expects and deserves.

“Todd and Phil (Okuhara and Shuler, co-crew chiefs) are doing a great job, giving me a great car each race. I just have to do my job – get a good light, then stab (the accelerator pedal) and steer.”

This will be Massey’s second visit to Bandimere Speedway and his second Western Swing – three-consecutive weekends of racing in Denver, Sonoma (Calif.) and Seattle. He made it to the semifinals in 2009 at this race, his rookie-of-the-year season and last full-season of Top Fuel competition.

“I’m excited about heading to the West,” he said. “If we get back on our roll, we have a chance to do what Antron did two years ago (in 2009 DSR teammate Antron Brown swept the three-race swing) which would be great!

“And I’m looking forward to the trip.”

Massey drives himself to most of the 22 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events in a motorhome, enjoying seeing the country as well as competing.

“I’m looking forward to the drive, cruising and the road trip,” he added.